Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson made billions by being at the top of her game. Follow her lead and success will be a slam dunk! BY STEPHANIE KELMAN, 20

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As a cheerleader on the sidelines in high school, Sheila Johnson never imagined that one day she'd buy a professional sports team of her own! Now, as the first African-American woman to become a billionaire (even before Oprah!) and the first woman to be a majority owner of a WNBA team, she reserves her cheers for her beloved Washington Mystics.

How did Sheila achieve so much? When Sheila was a kid, her mother always told her she could do anything. So after she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a violinist and orchestra conductor, she looked for her next challenge. In 1980, she saw an untapped opportunity in the new cable industry and, with her now ex-husband, started Black Entertainment Television (BET).

But even after she sold her stake in BET for more than $1 billion in 2001, Sheila wasn't about to sit back and relax. She bought the Washington Mystics, is building a luxurious resort in Virginia, and runs a foundation that helps women, children, and minorities.

I'm a business major at Georgetown University with hopes of going into sports marketing. It's hard to imagine what my future will be like, but Sheila shows us that the key to success is not only to reach for new opportunity but to also have the confidence to grab it! Here, Sheila tells us how.

Stephanie Kelman: In high school, did you ever think that you could achieve so much?

Sheila Johnson: When I was younger there was something in me. I had passion. I may not have known what I was going to do with that passion, but there was something-and I still feel it. It's this little engine that roars inside of me and I just want to keep going and going.

SK: How did your mom's advice help you become successful?

SJ: She said,"Don't ever say can't. You can do anything you put your mind to." And now when people say no to me, I say, "Don't say no to me. There is a waywe can work this out."

SK:What do you say to your 20-year-old daughter, Paige, about her future?

SJ: She has to keep trying at things. Don't rest on your laurels. There's always going to be someone behind you who's going to be better than you. So you need to get out there and keep working.

SK: Why is it important for a woman to be the owner of a WNBA team?

SJ: I think women are often taken for granted. When I bought the team, I saw that no one really cared about them. Like the locker facilities that these young women have to work in-they weren't right. I want to give them the best locker room facilities and show them they're valued-because if you show them value, they're going to perform better. And this goes for all women, not just basketball players.

SK: Some guys are intimidated by ambitious and successful girls. How can a girl deal with a situation like that?

SJ: Don't ever lose sight of who you are and your own power. There are a lot of male egos out there that cannot deal with highly successful women. And it's their problem. That's how we have to look at it. Don't stop setting your sights high because of some young guy.

SK: A lot of girls get so discouraged and think they'll never be successful. How did you keep going during bad times?

SJ: You have to learn to be patient and not give up. Look to your parents; they need to be there for you. But having spiritual faith will get you through anything.

SK: Everyone dreams of being a billionaire. What's the best part of being rich?

SJ: It gives you the freedom to make a difference in the world. It's important to give back to people. It's important that women support women. It gives me a great sense of well-being to know that I can make a difference in people's lives.